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RAOC Gazette - page 141

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Full title RAOC Gazette
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Publication date 1977
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Early date 1977
Late date 1977
Transcription POSTED TO AFCENT?
Bv STAFF SERGEANT D. LIDDELL
Photographs by Adjutant R. Hvrremiuis, Belgian Air Force
SL-RVING on an international Military Headquarters is one of
ihe more interesting jobs in the Corps and life at Headquarters
Allied Forces Central Europe (AFCENT) is certainty no
exception.
Here at this cosmopolitan Headquarters the RAOC flag is
bravely flown by the small contingent of one officer and some
thirty five other ranks,
The staff of the Headquarters are mainly from the United
States, United Kingdom and Germany, together with Belgium,
the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Canada.
British Servicemen at AFCENT are administered by an
RAF sponsored Joint Support Unit.
Plans and Operations Branch of Logistics Division is AFCENT's
logistic nerve centre.
Corporal Colin Graham " bashes the
keys " whilst Sergeant Frank Allen is briefed by Lieutenant
Colonel A . R. Simpson, US Army, on the next task.
chance for Corps members to benefit from the exchange of
other nations ideas and procedures (not to mention the RAF's)
both at work and in the community's varied and active social
life.
W h o says the " A r m y Exec " has an easy job? As Captain Robin
Lee, seated, deals with Sergeant Gerry Trottier's problem,
Corporal Ian Roe, forms a queue.
The Army Executive Officer and the senior Corps represen-
tative at AFCENT is Captain Robin Lee. In addition to his
primary task, which is the day-to-day administration of the
British Army personnel assigned to AFCENT, he wears the
hats of Staff Officer to the Senior British Staff Officer and Unit
Mechanised Transport Officer.
Sergeant Gerry Trottier is the Chief Clerk Army in the
General Office and with his staff, Corporals Dave Murray and
Ian Roe, has the unenviable task of keeping tabs on officers and
soldiers spread singly or in pairs in almost every department
of the Headquarters. Our lone Technical Clerk, Corporal Pete
Marley, and three storemen, Corporals Dave Spooner and Bob
t^
-illy and Lance Corporal Chalky White, do an admirable job
i . •f coping with RAF regulations and procedures in our Supply
Squadron.
The majority of RAOC here at AFCENT are Stall Clerks
employed in the international departments of the Headquarters
and who have job specifications ranging from office administra-
tion to ADP and even editor of the Headquarters weekly news-
paper! An international mix can be found even in the smallest
of the staff branches. Many members of the Corps head inter-
national teams, or work under the leadership of allied supervisors.
After the initial period of wondering which of the myriad
uniforms and badges in the Headquarters require to be saluted,
lite at AFCENT is interesting and enjoyable, In addition to
the known benefits of service in Europe, AFCENT offers the
— 105 —
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Tel, (STD 0895) 53444
20 % Discount -
special scheme
Motor Insurance. Available to all
Corps members.
Life Assurance — protection for
your family or saving for the future.
House Purchase — buying now or
in the future. Which Building Society
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Preferential Interest rates available
to regular savers.
Book number R0246